>>”…This project has been used to get 4K scans and new prints to preserve live action classics like Song of the South (no plans to release) and just this year Parent Trap, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Old Yeller, The Absent-Minded Professor and Pollyanna (I encouraged them to start releasing these live action classics to Blu-ray). They plan to tackle Darby O’Gill and the Little People and Mary Poppins (expect to see something out around the 50th Anniversary). While all the nitrate films (pre-1955) are getting 4K scans and new safety negatives, not everything is getting a pristine restoration at this time, like the animated films released on Blu-ray have. For most films these are simply preservation steps. It’s important to note that all of the new safety negatives they are shooting are NOT touched up. It’s simply a capture of the original film negative. They don’t want to “bake in” any cleanup, but rather preserve a copy of the original negative “as-is”. These films have just been re-preserved and won’t undergo any further “re-mastering” and digital cleanup until they are slated for release….”<<

Much more article at above link and additional info in comments section. Interesting info.

Thanks for that post Merlin. I'm happy that they are preserving their old classics still. As for "Song of the South," regardless if this leads to an offical release or not, it is still good news. They could decide (dare I say this) to let it turn to dust and not preserve it. That would definatly end the deabte about that (not really), but instead, they are making sure the film is preserved. When I also think about this http://www.post-movie.net/?p=1840l, I can say I have hope still. However, my feeling is that as long as Bob Iger is CEO, things don't look good for the films release anytime soon. Time will tell.

_____________________________________________________________________________
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

More importantly, it's worth noting here that -- while The Walt Disney Company still isn't ready to release Song of the South stateside through its home entertainment division -- the Mouse has made an effort to make sure that this 1946 Academy Award-winner is being properly preserved for future generations. As part of their on-going scanning project with the Library of Congress, Joe Jiuliano (Who's Disney's director of Film & Video Services. More importantly, the technical adviser for the Studio's restoration committee.) and his team made a new black-and-white successive exposure negative of Song of the South. Which -- along with the new safety negative that they just shot -- guarantees that this somewhat controversial film will be preserved for another 100 years.

Plus, it would kind of be a dick move for Disney (an American company, sure, with world wide branches), to release SotS (an American film) everywhere BUT America, which is presumably where the largest group of fans are clamoring to see it.

Yet, that's exactly what they did back in the 90's with the VHS. Most European countries had the movie released, but not the USA.

Plus, it would kind of be a dick move for Disney (an American company, sure, with world wide branches), to release SotS (an American film) everywhere BUT America, which is presumably where the largest group of fans are clamoring to see it.

Yet, that's exactly what they did back in the 90's with the VHS. Most European countries had the movie released, but not the USA.

Carlos

The more I think about it, the more I bet that is exactly what they will do. Disney is simply too fear fear that the PC police in the US will rain upon them if they release this film. I bet thinking like they do, an international only releases is the way this will happen.

My only hope is that if that is what they do, that they at least make the DVD or Blu-ray region free as at least some tip of the hat to US collectors.

I had a thought after reading Jim Hill's piece on the issue. I wonder how many more times "Peter Pan" will get a release without being edited? The Indian sequence seems to give them lots of flack and I seriously have to wonder how much long they will releases this film without taking that out.

_____________________________________________________________________________
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

I just had a crazy idea. What if Disney released "Song of the South" as one of their Disney Education Productions DVD's?

_____________________________________________________________________________
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

When there are so many worse movies than "Song Of The South" that are out now for children, I still can't see why they won't release this masterpiece!

because blood, guts, gore and such content is more wholesome than a movie with a black man in it.

Don't Forget That Evil Lace Collar

That dang laced collar is reason enough to ban the film!

_____________________________________________________________________________
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

Does anyone know if Criterion actually reads their "Suggest a Title" emails? I sent them an email suggesting SOTS, but I never got a reply. Here's the web page: http://www.criterion.com/contact_us

I don't know for sure, but my bet is they do, they just are super selective about writing anyone back.

_____________________________________________________________________________
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

Criterion hates animation, so they're not likely to release Song of the South, even though it fits right into their mission statement. In a perfect world, the likes of The Thief and the Cobbler, Fritz the Cat, Coonskin, Song of the South, Fantastic Mr Fox and Mr Bug Goes to Town would have Criterion releases. Unfortunately, they're a very prejudiced group and so...

_________________"If your life had a face, I would punch it." - Kim Pine, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

I don't think Criterion hates animation, but I think it's extremely unlikely that Disney would agree to license "Song of the South" to them.

If "Song of the South" gets released, it will be from Disney. I can't see them letting someone else release this particular film.

_____________________________________________________________________________
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

Nostalgia Chick reviews Song of the South and is dead-on in her assessment (although I like the animated bits just a little more then she did). Most people I know are disappointed in just how boring it is, especially after riding the energetic Splash Mountain and all the hype stemming from the controversy. I hope if it's every released, they'll also include the animated bits separately somewhere on disc, just like they do with the Winnie-the-Pooh shorts on the Many Adventures home releases:

Nostalgia Chick reviews Song of the South and is dead-on in her assessment (although I like the animated bits just a little more then she did). Most people I know are disappointed in just how boring it is, especially after riding the energetic Splash Mountain and all the hype stemming from the controversy. I hope if it's every released, they'll also include the animated bits separately somewhere on disc, just like they do with the Winnie-the-Pooh shorts on the Many Adventures home releases:

_____________________________________________________________________________
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.

Who is online

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum